Lupron Shot Scheduling Question

[DFL208]

Hello All, I greatly respect and appreciate everyone who posts on this forum. I have a mundane question I would appreciate thoughts on. My next 6 month Lupron shot would be due May 19. I am tied up that day. Is there a limit on how far in advance of the exact 6 month date you can get your shot paid by insurance? I would like to get the shot 6 days early on May 13 or 3 days early on May 16. Should either of these be a problem with insurance?

[Jpl506]

Individual results may vary but I was told my insurance would not cover it even 1 day earlier.

[Tall_Allen]

Call your insurance and get pre-authorization.

[DarkEnergy]

Why needing an earlier rescheduled treatment date, Testosterone castration levels takes time to restart and grow. Many of us take treatment "vacations", like me for example.

My point, why getting the Lupron injection, let's say a week after the due date would be a risk?

[tango65]

You can get it later. It takes months for the testosterone to recover,, it would not affect the treatment of the cancer to delay a few days or weeks the Lupron injection.

[Shooter1]

For insurance later is way better than early. Life Is Good, especially when insurance pays.

[treedown]

I got my 3 month shot a week early 4 times so ended my 2 year stint a month early. Didn't come up as an issue for insurance which I have with Kaiser.

[ImaSurvivor1 in reply to treedown]

What Kaiser or another HMO allows is not a good indication of what Medicare or an independent insurance coverage might pay for.

[DBritton]

Should not…..I was a week late getting a second shot

[6357axbz]

I never had any trouble but it might be better to postpone it than take it early

[RonnyBaby]

A delay in getting the scheduled shot is NO big deal - it happened to me more than once.

I was told that the 1/2 life of THIS type is ADT = 1/2 (or greater) than the duration you've been on it.

It's a simple 'rule of thumb', but NOT cast in stone .......

[dhccpa]

It probably depends on your insurance company, or Medicare, but there is a point before which it might not be approved. I suspect you have at least a few days, MAYBE as long as a week, flexibility. I recommend you contact your insurance carrier directly, preferably where you get a response in writing so they can't back away from it.

And, as others have noted, getting it late is no big deal, and avoids insurance company BS.

[Muffin2019]

I had to get authorization for my eligard shot and my xgeva shots this year, first time having to do this, never had to before so the insurance companies are clanping down on these.

[wagscure259]

Only your insurance company can answer your coverage questions. It is your right to contact them

[SteveTheJ]

First, you should consider a 3-month injection instead of 6-month. My understanding is that urologists usually pick 6 and oncologists usually pick 3. Second, my oncologist told me that scheduling is not critical because he says it takes "a long time" to wear off.

But as Jpl506 points out, insurance won't cover it if you try to schedule it early.

[Fightinghard]

Why risk it and add stress to your life. Just schedule the shot a week late. The long half-life should carry you for a couple days with no problem.

[j-o-h-n]

I have never had an issue with getting pricked....... late or early..........except when I was in the military....when I was chosen to volunteer for some kind of duty....by some nco pricker... oops picker.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 02/27/2022 7:35 PM EST